Hologram with integral printed indicia

ABSTRACT

A material with holographic and non-holographic displayable indicia thereupon has an embossed holographic microtexture upon a surface thereof for forming a reflection hologram and resulting in an associated visible holographic pattern. A non-holographic pattern is printed with a printing press upon the embossed holographic microtexture at a predetermined orientation relative to the holographic pattern. The pattern may have several colors printed in registration and in registration with the holographic pattern which may include 2D and 3D indicia. A reflective coating overlies the microtexture and the printed pattern.

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 08/199,552, filed Feb. 22,1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,149, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to holograms, diffraction gratings and thelike, and more particularly to such displayable media associated withprinted or other graphic indicia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Holograms and diffraction gratings have become very popular in recentyears for their decorative effect. In addition, because holograms anddiffraction gratings, hereinafter "holograms" are hard to produce orreproduce without sophisticated equipment and personnel, they have foundwide application as a means for authenticating documents and otherobjects ranging from credit cards to limited edition collectibles. Thepopularity of holograms has been enhanced by economical, high-volumemethods of producing them, such as the production of reflectionholograms by embossing a web substrate to form a surfacemicrocorrugation or microtexture representing an interference fringepattern.

The various steps involved in the creation of holographic microtexturedsurfaces are well known and need not be described herein except to notethat a few different methods for mass production exist, e.g., embossing,as exemplified by the patents to U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,649 to Frattarola,U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,416 to Ryan, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,227 to Miekkaet al. An alternative novel embossing method is proposed in a copendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/998,832 entitled METHOD OF PRODUCINGSURFACE RELIEF HOLOGRAMS and assigned to the assignee herein.

In addition to embossing processes, casting techniques have also beenproposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,850 to Mallik et al.discloses a casting process employing liquid resin casting ofmicrotextured surfaces through photopolymerization.

In the course of their use as decoration and security devices, hologramsare frequently employed in association with other traditional indicia,such as printing, photographs and handwriting. For example, a driver'slicense may bear an individual's photograph, signature, registrationnumber and address, along with other information. For verificationpurposes, holographic indica, e.g., the state seal, may be incorporatedinto a license by laminating or gluing it thereto in a manner whichprevents non-destructive alteration of the various elements of the card,i.e., to prevent forgery. This has given rise to various strategies forassociating a hologram, which is hard to produce or reproduce withoutsophisticated and expensive apparatus, with a document to be secured. Itis advantageous if the hologram is non-removable from the entirety ofthe document to be protected. This raises a problem however, in that, ifa hologram is overlain upon other indicia, the underlying indicia isobscured. Solutions to this problem have been proposed. For example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,707, 5,128,779 and 5,145,212 to Mallik describediscontinuous holograms which are partially transparent owing to adiscontinuous reflective layer. Copending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/048,769 entitled SEMI-TRANSPARENT LAYER FOR A PHASE HOLOGRAM andassigned to the assignee of the present application proposes yet anothersolution in the form of an embossed reflection hologram having acontinuous, semi-transparent reflective layer. In both cases, acompromise is struck between the brightness of the hologram and thevisibility of the underlying indica.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,850, Mallik et al. propose a technique forcoating a hardened surface relief created by a liquid casting processwith a discontinuous graphical pattern of a clear or colored paint thateliminates the surface relief pattern in the regions so coated. Mallik'850 suggests that the paint can be applied in the form of printing,which is understood to mean words. Mallik '850 also recognizes thatprinting can be applied to a web of diffraction grating media on theside which is opposite to the casted microtexture. While Mallik '850conceptually explores applying some form of graphical pattern to adiffraction grating, Mallik '850 fails to supply sufficient informationto carry out this technique, e.g., by failing to specify the "paint" tobe used and the exact means by which this "paint" is applied. Inaddition, Mallik '850 is applicable to techniques involving hologramscast from liquid photocurable resin.

As applied to embossed media, when an application requires printedindicia in combination with holographic indicia, a web of existingmetallized holographic material is overprinted on the viewing side,opposite to the microtexture and metallization. This is typicallyperformed by the end user who has purchased holographic material withoutany printing on it. Frequently, this occurs after the holographicmaterial is applied to product packaging. It would be beneficial,therefore, if an end user could obtain a holographic web from themanufacturer which already incorporated any desired printing, as thiswould eliminate the relatively difficult step of printing upon packagingat the end user's location.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a specific method forapplying non-holographic printed indicia to an embossed, rather thancast, reflection hologram. The process yields a mixedholographic/non-holographic media which is ready for use by an end userwithout any subsequent printing steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems and disadvantages associated with the conventionaltechniques and devices utilized to produce mixed holographic andnon-holographic indicia on a common substrate are overcome by thepresent invention which includes a material having holographic andnon-holographic displayable indicia thereupon. The material has asubstrate with an embossed holographic microtexture upon a surfacethereof resulting in an associated visible holographic pattern. Aselected non-holographic pattern is printed upon the embossedholographic microtexture at a predetermined orientation relative to theholographic pattern. A reflective coating overlies the microtexture andthe printed pattern.

In an associated method, an embossed holographic microtexture upon asurface of a substrate is printed upon in a selected pattern with aprinting press. The microtexture and the pattern is then coated with areflective coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the following detailed description of an exemplary embodimentconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card having holographic andnon-holographic indicia formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the card depicted in FIG. 1 takenalong section line II--II and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the card of FIG. 1 at a finalprocessing step; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a process performed inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a card 10, e.g., of a type similar to a common credit card,having four different kinds of viewable indicia thereon. The cardincludes printed, readable, indicia, i.e., in the form of readableletters 12 and numbers 14, a diffraction grating pattern 16 depicted asa pattern of dashes and dots and having a two dimensional or 2D effect,3D holographic indicia represented by virtual solids 18 and 20 drawn indashed lines, and a multicolored design 22 having variously coloredsegments 24. The printing 12 and 14 is at least partiallynon-holographic, may be monochromatic or variegated and is formed by aprinting press as shall be explained below. The multicolored design 22is also at least partially non-holographic and is printed by a printingpress in different color inks as shall be described below. The virtual3D images 18 and 20 are created by embossed reflection holograms.Similarly, the diffraction or rainbow grating pattern 16 is a reflectionhologram impressed as a microtexture in an embossable surface. Thediffraction grating pattern 16 can be continuous or discontinuous,uniform and repetitive, or it can be a reoriented composite such as thatdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,845 entitled MULTICOLORED MATERIALUSING RAINBOW GRATING by the inventor herein and assigned to theassignee herein.

It should be observed that the diffraction grating pattern 16 hasdirectionality and conveys a visual impression of being oriented inparallel with the periphery of the card 10. Similarly, thenon-holographic indicia 12 and 14 have an observable orientation. In thecase of the words "JOHN DOE", for example, they are in parallelorientation with respect to the diffraction pattern 16. In accordancewith the present invention, any relative orientation is achievable. Itis intended that the "O", "N" and "O" of the letters 12 of "JOHN DOE"are outlines through which the diffraction grating 16 may be viewed.Segments 24 of multicolored design 22 are printed in registration witheach other, with a first segment of a first color abutting against asecond segment of a second color. Segment 23 is a 3-D hologram, i.e.,showing a wedge shaped object. The 3-D hologram 23 is in registrationwith the remainder of the multicolored design 22, i.e., thenon-holographic segments 24 are printed in registration with thehologram segment 23. Thus, one can appreciate that the card 10 exhibitsmulticolored, non-holographic text and graphic designs printed inregistration with each other. The non-holographic indicia is displayedsimultaneously with both 2D and 3D holographic indicia with respect towhich it has a predetermined orientation and is printed in registrationthereto.

FIG. 2 shows the various layers making up the card 10 of FIG. 1. A basesupport 26, e.g., composed of PVC plastic provides a mechanicalfoundation for the card 10. An adhesive layer 28, e.g., of vinyl bonds ahologram to the base support 26. The hologram has a metallized layer 30deposited over an embossable layer 32 with a microtextured surface 34.Printed ink forming the letters 12 and design 22 is sandwiched betweenthe metallized layer 30 and the microtextured surface 34 of theembossable layer 32. As will be recognized by one of normal skill in theart of holograms, the combination of a microtextured surface and ametallized layer composed, e.g., of a bright opaque metal like aluminum,can provide a reflection hologram exhibiting 2D or 3D effects. Otherreflective coatings exist beside aluminum, such as high refractive index(HRI) coatings as exemplified by copending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/048,769 assigned to the present assignee and incorporated hereinfor its teachings concerning the formation of reflective layers forphase holograms. A method for producing a material which simultaneousevidences both 2D and 3D effects is described and claimed in copendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/056,731 entitled TWO DIMENSIONALGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME and assigned to the presentassignee, such application being incorporated by reference for itsteachings thereon. A scuff coat 36 of e.g., acrylated urethane, has beendeposited over the embossable layer to protect it from mechanicalabrasion. Thus, one can appreciate that the present invention results inprinted indicia which is protected from purposeful or inadvertentalteration by virtue of its inclusion within a laminate, i.e., betweenthe metal layer 30 and the microtextured surface 34 of the embossablelayer 32. The scuff coat 36 and the base support 26 provide furtherprotection.

FIG. 3 shows the laminate card depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 at apreliminary state of completion. A heated press plate 38 is shownpressing down upon a laminate which includes the previously describedlayers, viz., base support 26, adhesive 28, metal 30, embossable layer32, ink printing 12 and scuff coat 36. A release layer 40, e.g., ofcarnuba wax is shown which facilitates the separation of a carrier film42 from the scuff coat 36 after the heat and pressure applied by pressplate 38 has caused the adhesive layer 28 to adhere to the base support26. As described in the assignee's co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 07/998,832 which is incorporated herein by reference,embossable media may be applied to a carrier film prior to embossing.FIG. 3 thus illustrates a precursor material which includes release coat40 and a carrier film 42 for supporting the embossable coating layer 32and a step in the process for adhering the holographic/non-holographicmaterial to a base support to form a finished product.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the steps involved in making a printedholographic product in accordance with the present invention and asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. At step 44, substrate (carrier film) isprovided for the hologram. A typical substrate employed for this purposeis a web of polyester in roll form. The polyester web is coated 46 witha release coat, such as carnuba wax. The release coat assists indelaminating the finished hologram from the substrate web as describedin relation to FIG. 3. A scuff coat may be applied at step 48 for thoseapplications where the hologram is exposed to significant abrasion. Ahologram may be formed in a layer of embossable media, typically byembossing with a roll die. An exemplary embossing process is describedin the assignee's copending application Ser. No. 07/998,832, which hasalready been incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed in thatapplication, an embossable media may be applied to a substrate inflowable form and later embossed. Alternatively, a solid film or sheetof thermoplastic film may be embossed utilizing greater heat and/orpressure. It has been determined, however, that applying a flowableembossable media to a substrate web has certain unique advantages. Oneattribute of utilizing a separate embossable coating is the ability toindependently determine the color of the embossable coating apart fromthe color of the substrate. Alternatively, the coating can be colorless.The selection of a color for the embossable coating provides a tint forthe entire resulting hologram. The determination as to whether theembossable layer is to be colorless or tinted is made at step 50. If atint is selected, a tinted embossable media is selected or a pigment ordye having that color is added to a clear embossable media 54.

The embossable media is thereafter applied to the substrate as a coating52. In order to be embossable and to avoid sticking to the roll die, themedia must be rendered non-flowable 56 by, e.g., cooling, drying orcuring with actinic radiation. The coated substrate can then be stored60, preferably in roll form, if desired 58, or fed directly into theembossing apparatus. In either case, the media coated upon the substrateis ultimately embossed 62 with a microtexture representing theinterference fringe of a reflection hologram. After embossing, theembossed media can be stored 64, 66, e.g., either with the substrate orindependently in roll form, pending ultimate final production steps asshall be described below.

Having created the microembossed media on a carrier web, the printedtext, numbers or patterns can be applied thereto, preferably upon themicroembossed surface 70. In accordance with the present invention, acommon printing press is employed to apply printed text or designs tothe embossed surface. For example, a six-color gravure printing presstype HL-250 by D.C.M. Corporation may be used. Having printed a firstpattern (text, numbers, graphics or any other) in a first color, themedia is advanced to the next color/pattern printing station until theentire design is printed 72. The present invention preferably employsnitrocellulose/acrylic lacquer as the tintable embossable media andpigmented acrylic resin as printing ink. This combination results inprinting with excellent fidelity and resolution of approximately 300lines per inch. A printing throughput of about 300 feet per minute maybe achieved in accordance with this invention. The particular printingink employed must be compatible with the embossable media selected. Arepulsion of the ink by the embossable media will frustrate ink transferfrom the printing press and/or the undesired transfer to the substrateweb upon storage in roll form. Either of these circumstances will resultin degraded printed patterns in the final product. Similarly, thesubstrate-to-ink attraction should be less than that of the embossablemedia-to-ink attraction and, preferably, no transfer to the substrateoccurs, even after storage in roll form for long periods of time.

Upon application of the ink to the microtextured surface, themicrotexture is at least partially filled in and disabled as a source ofdiffraction resulting in a holographic image. At the same time, the inkpattern is readily visible through the embossable media. To complete thehologram with printed indicia, the embossed and printed media ismetallized 74. If desired, an adhesive layer can be applied over themetal layer.

What has been described, therefore, is a process for printing a selectedmulti or single color design or pattern, which may include readableindicia, upon the embossed microtexture of a reflection hologram priorto metallization. This results in the printed indicia being contiguouswith and intimately associated with holographic indicia which isdifficult to replicate by a would-be forger. Besides its application forauthenticating documents, the combination of printed and holographicindicia is economical to produce, thereby adding the capability toincorporate printed, non-holographic messages and patterns withholographic indicia for decorative or promotional purposes.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyexemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variationsand modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. All such variations andmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A material having holographic and non-holographicdisplayable indicia thereupon, comprising:(a) a substrate that has asurface andan embossed holographic microtexture on the surface, theembossed holographic microtexture having an orientation axis thatdefines an ability to view a holographic image; (b) a selectednon-holographic pattern printed upon said embossed holographicmicrotexture at a selected angular orientation relative to theorientation axis of the holographic microtexture; and (c) a reflectivecoating overlying said embossed holographic microtexture.
 2. Thematerial of claim 1, wherein said selected pattern includes a pluralityof colors printed in registration.
 3. The material of claim 1, whereinsaid holographic microtexture creates a visible holographic pattern. 4.The material of claim 3, wherein said holographic pattern includes areasthereof having a three dimensional visual effect.
 5. The material ofclaim 3, wherein said selected non-holographic pattern is printed inregistration with said holographic pattern.
 6. The material of claim 1,wherein said embossed holographic microtexture comprises nitrocelluloseacrylic lacquer.
 7. The material of claim 1, wherein said selectednon-holographic pattern comprises pigmented acrylic resin.
 8. Thematerial of claim 1, wherein said selected non-holographic patternincludes readable matter.
 9. The material of claim 1, wherein saidselected non-holographic pattern includes graphics.
 10. The material ofclaim 1, wherein said embossed holographic microtexture is tinted. 11.The material of claim 3, wherein the holographic pattern includes areasthereof having a two dimensional visual effect.
 12. A material havingholographic and non-holographic displayable indicia, comprising:asubstrate that has a surface and an embossed holographic microtexture onthe surface, the embossed holographic microtexture having an orientationaxis that defines an ability to view a holographic image; and a selectednon-holographic pattern printed upon the embossed holographicmicrotexture at a selected angular orientation relative to theorientation axis of the holographic microtexture.
 13. The material ofclaim 12, wherein the embossed holographic microtexture furthercomprises a metalized layer.
 14. The material of claim 12, wherein thesubstrate comprises plastic.
 15. The material of claim 12, wherein theembossed holographic microtexture is tinted.
 16. The material of claim12, wherein the embossed holographic microtexture creates a visibleholographic pattern.
 17. The material of claim 16, wherein theholographic pattern creates a three-dimensional visual effect.
 18. Amaterial having holographic and non-holographic displayable indicia,comprising:a substrate that has a surface and an embossed holographicmicrotexture on the surface, the embossed holographic microtexturehaving an orientation axis that defines an ability to view a holographicpattern; a selected non-holographic pattern printed upon the embossedholographic microtexture at a selected angular orientation relative tothe orientation axis of the holographic microtexture; and a visibleholographic pattern impressed on the embossed holographic microtexture,the selected non-holographic pattern being printed in registration withthe visible holographic pattern.
 19. The material of claim 18, furthercomprising a metalized layer overlying the selected non-holographicpattern and the visible holographic pattern.
 20. The material of claim18, wherein the embossed holographic microtexture is tinted.